Fort Smith sales tax revenues ahead of 2013 FOR SMITH (AP) — Fort Smith's latest sales-tax report shows revenues in July continued an upward trend over 2013 while missing budget estimates by about 1 percent. A report released by the Fort Smith Finance Department indicates revenues hit $3.26 million, which was 1.26 percent more than last July and 1.15 percent, or about $38,000, below budget estimates for the month. The Fort Smith Times Record reported factoring in the newest figures from...

Grants intended to improve conditions in Delta LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Community Foundation has awarded $60,000 in grants to six organizations that work to improve social and economic conditions for children and families in the Arkansas Delta region. The grants from the Community Foundation's Arkansas Delta Endowment for Building Community, will support initiatives to help residents improve their economic stability and quality of life. Organizations receiving grants are Vera Lloyd ...

Planet Fitness construction nears completionConstruction nears completion on the interior of the new Planet Fitness in City Mall on North Arkansas Avenue in Russellville. The center is set to open in September. Planet Fitness currently has more than 800 locations across the country.

Taco Villa closes El Paso Avenue location for goodTaco Villa’s hot sauce, cheese dip and chips will now only be found at one location — 420 E. 4th St. The Mexican restaurant’s El Paso Avenue location closed nearly three weeks ago, owner Kit Kitterman said, with no plans to reopen. “We’re just going to focus on the 4th Street location,” Kitterman said. “We have been very blessed there.” Kitterman said the El Paso Avenue project, which was scheduled to be completed in August, was one factor in ...

Centennial Bank donates 500 backpacksCentennial Bank’s North Central Region delivered 500 backpacks for students of various elementary schools in Atkins, Hector, Dover, Dardanelle, Russellville and Clarksville. Todd Meimerstorf, Market President, Kylia Lee, Sr. Business Development Officer and Carol Patty, Corporate Marketing, traveled in the mobile branch and met with staff from branches in each area to present the backpacks to staff of the receiving elementary schools.

Pediatrics Plus celebrates grand opening MondayPediatrics Plus celebrated its grand opening Monday morning at its new 23,000 square-foot facility located on North Sidney Avenue in Russellville. The developmental preschool and therapy center will provide up to 50 new jobs. The $4 million acquisition and renovation of the former Hog Wild Fun Center was announced in January. For the past seven years, Pediatrics Plus has been providing physical, occupational and speech therapy, early intervent...

Fort Smith stays on top, West Memphis makes move forward on ATBIMay was a good month for the Arkansas economy according to the Arkansas Tech Business Index (ATBI). Eleven of the 16 municipalities listed on the index saw their ATBI value increase from April to May 2014. West Memphis (+2.91 points) made the biggest move forward. Dr. Marc Fusaro, associate professor of economics at Arkansas Tech University and developer of the ATBI, noted that the housing sector was the primary factor for the increase in West...

Alcohol tax continues to benefit cityAs Russellville’s alcohol sales continue to climb, the city is continuing to reap the benefit of its alcohol tax. According to the city’s Finance Assistant Connie Holstein, the city has collected $57,188 so far this year on its 5 percent alcohol tax. With annual fees of more than $3,000 coming in from private clubs with a liquor license, the city has collected a total of more than $61,000. The city collected more than $66,000 from a 5 percent ...

New Walmart Neighborhood Market open in RussellvilleThe new Walmart Neighborhood Market opened its doors Wednesday morning to shoppers following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The grand-opening celebration included presentations of $5,000 in grants from Walmart to local community groups. Grant recipients included the Pope County Library, Dwight Elementary School and Crawford Elementary School. In addition to the grants given as part of the grand opening, the new store will further Walmart’s pledge ...

Ross, Hutchinson offer different way to Delta jobs PINE BLUFF (AP) — Gubernatorial candidates Asa Hutchinson and Mike Ross each expressed a desire to improve the quality of the Arkansas workforce Wednesday but differed on how to do it. The pair spoke separately to business, education and political leaders at a Delta Regional Authority conference about efforts to improve the number and quality of jobs available in the impoverished region. "The Delta economy is constantly changing and our workfo...

NRC schedules ANO meetingThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public meeting with representatives from Entergy Operations, Inc. on Sept. 3 to discuss the agency’s safety assessment of Arkansas Nuclear One. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Lake Point Conference Center, 61 Lake Point Lane, Russellville. NRC staff will present their assessment of the plant’s performance, talk about agency activities and programs and be available to respond to questi...

AG offers credit card tips for students LITTLE ROCK (AP) — As students prepare to head back to school, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says young consumers should use caution when considering applying for credit cards. McDaniel also says laws are in place to protect college campuses from predatory credit card solicitations. A 1999 state law restricts the practice of marketing credit cards on college campuses in an effort to combat high-pressure solicitations that target college stu...

Wal-Mart's website to personalize shopping NEW YORK (AP) — Wal-Mart, in its latest bid to compete with nemesis Amazon.com, is rebuilding its website to further personalize the online shopping experience of each customer. Wal-Mart is rolling out a feature that will enable its website to show shoppers more products that they may like, based on previous purchases. It will also customize Wal-Mart's home page for each shopper based on the customer's location, local weather and the customer'...

Russellville City Council OKs convention center contractAfter years in the making, the city has accepted a contract from a Tennessee developer to build a convention center and hotel complex in Russellville. The Russellville City Council called a special meeting Tuesday and voted unanimously to authorize Mayor Bill Eaton and City Clerk Kathy Collins to enter into a master development contract with Hunt Properties, GP, for the construction of The Landing north of Interstate 40. “I feel very humbled t...

Superior Industries to shutter Rogers plant ROGERS (AP) — Superior Industries International Inc. announced Wednesday it would shutter its manufacturing plant in Rogers, eliminating 500 jobs. The California-based company produces aluminum wheels for the auto industry, supplying to companies like Ford, General Motors, Toyota and Nissan. Work done at the Rogers plant will be shifted to other Superior facilities in Fayetteville and in Chihuahua, Mexico, the company said. "This action follow...

Arkansas lands $90M wood pellet manufacturing site MONTICELLO (AP) — A Texas-based company announced Wednesday it is building a $90 million facility in south Arkansas to manufacture wood pellets that can be used as an alternative fuel source. The project is expected to employ 52 people. Houston-based Zilkha Biomass Energy LLC says the facility in Monticello will manufacture its Zilkha Black Pellet, the first commercially available advanced pellet in the biomass industry. The company said in a ...

Tyson to sell Mexico, Brazil poultry operationsSPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP) — Tyson Foods plans to sell its poultry businesses in Mexico and Brazil for $575 million in cash to help pay debt from its recently announced acquisition of Hillshire Brands. The Springdale, Arkansas, meat processor said Monday that it still plans to expand its international operations, especially in Asia, but the businesses it will sell didn't have the scale to gain leading positions in their markets. Tyson made the anno...